The official launch ceremony took place in Maputo, Mozambique, gathering senior representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries (MAAP), the Japanese Embassy to Mozambique, FAO representatives, and key national stakeholders. High-level attendees included Acubar Baptista, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries; H.E. Keiji Hamada, Ambassador of Japan to Mozambique; José Luis Fernández Filgueiras, FAO Representative in Mozambique; and Nora Berrahmouni, Deputy Director of the Land and Water Division (NSL) at FAO. 

“Soil health is essential for the sustainable intensification of agriculture,” said Acubar Baptista, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries (MAAP). “The SoilFER–VACS project is of particular importance to the country at a time when the Ministry is being challenged to improve the food system in order to ensure increased agricultural production and productivity. For this reason, as MAAP, we have high expectations for the project and are fully committed to providing our full support to ensure its success for the benefit of producers.” 

In his remarks, Ambassador Keiji Hamada emphasized Japan’s ongoing commitment to Mozambique’s agricultural development: “For the sustainable economic and social development of Mozambique, it is extremely important to increase agricultural productivity, create jobs, and raise incomes in rural areas. This is expected to contribute to poverty reduction and improved food security.” 

FAO Representative, José Luis Fernández Filgueiras, highlighted the significance of SoilFER-VACS in addressing soil degradation and improving agricultural productivity: “The SoilFER-VACS Project is a milestone in Mozambique's journey towards sustainable soil and land management. With enhanced soil information systems and laboratory capacities, farmers will gain access to critical data that informs sustainable practices and climate-resilient agriculture.” 

NSL Deputy Director, Nora Berrahmouni underscored the strategic importance of the project, emphasizing the importance of data and information to inform policymaking and action on the ground from fertilizer efficient use, to crop selection and crop management practices. The project will contribute to the Government’s efforts to transform agrifood systems to become more resilient and sustainable: "The launch of the SoilFER-VACS project marks more than just the beginning of a new initiative. It is the signal of a shared commitment to our farmers who are at the heart of agrifood systems, food security, and nutrition. They have a key role to play in the sustainable management and restoration of agricultural lands and soils”.  

The SoilFER-VACS project will accomplish: 

• The development of National Soil Information Systems (NSIS) to manage and disseminate soil data effectively; 
• Advanced soil laboratory analysis for better soil health monitoring; 
• High-resolution soil and land-use mapping to optimize agricultural productivity; 
• Capacity building for national experts in soil analysis and sustainable land management. 

The project aligns with FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31, contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Furthermore, it supports Mozambique's Country Programming Framework (CPF) 2022–2026, which emphasizes sustainable land management, economic diversification, and climate resilience.